Mowing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. SMITH. 'MOWING MACHINE. No. 251,479. PatentedDec. 27,1881.

Fig.1;

(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

- E. SMITH.

. MOWING MAGHINE. No. 251.479. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,479, dated December 2'7, 1881.

Application filed March 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, EPHRAIM SMITH, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPen nsylvania, have invented Improvements in Mowing and Grain Cutting Machines; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a top view of a mowing or grain-cutting machine constructed with my improvement; Fig. 2, a side elevation of a part detached; Fig. 3, a view of the machine in elevation, taken in a plane indicated by the line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine B, a casting attached to the frame to support the operative mechanism which drives the cutter-bar; (J O, brace cap-pieces for the corners of the iron frame A; E, a chain, band, or cord lifting on the hinge-bar F at the rear ofthe machine and extendingupward and forward to a vibratory segment, H, on the lifting and adjusting lever G, whereby the hingebar, and with it the fin ger-bar and cutter-bar, is raised and lowered.

A spring, k, is mounted on the cutter-bar, lifting hinge-bar F and formingadirect springconnection between the finger-bar J and the lifting chain, band, or cord E, so as to act to balance elastically the finger-bar on its pivot or hinge connection with the hinge-bar, and to lift both ends of the said finger-bar equally and simultaneously, and at the same time cause the same to ride freely over obstructions and unevenness of the ground, and greatly reduce the side draft as well as the direct draft of the machine. At the same time it does not interfere with the lifting of the hinge-bar and with it the finger-bar and cutter-bar of the machine. It bears upon the heel of the finger-bar, and therefore does not interfere with the turning up of the finger-bar when the machine is not at work. As it forms a direct communication between the lifting-chain and finger-bar, this balancing action is in a great measure independent of the lifting action of the hinge-bar on the whole finger-bar; and its action is such that it tends to lift the outer end of the fingerbar first, and thereby to cause that end to move very lightly over obstructions without affecting the inner end of the same. I contemplate giving sufficient strength to the spring to nearly or quite counterbalance the finger-bar upon its hinge-connection with the hinge-bar. It gives not merely passive elasticity to the finger-bar, but is active to raise the outer end of the same over obstructions.

The spring may be a lever-spring, as represented or any other form or construction of spring may be employed.

A spring-sheave, I, turning freely on a pivot of the casting B, has sprockets or projections to receive the links of the lifting-chain E, which runs over the sheave, and is supported thereby at the place of suspension for the parts sustained by the chain. The spring in the sheave is adjusted to sufficient strength to nearly lift the hinge-bar, finger-bar, and the parts resting on or immediately connected with the finger-bar. This spring-sheave renders the finger-bar and its appended parts easy to raise and lower, and at the same time the springsheave, being connected with the chain E in the middle part, does not interfere with the lifting device G H, and acts freely on the chain while the machine is working, enabling the cutter-bar to run very lightly on the ground, while the same is securely supported by the segment H, all as set forth in the application for Letters Patent filed by me September 12,

1879, and of which my present application is a division and I hereby disclaim all the mechanism herein described as claimed in the said original application, except the spring 7c and its combination with other parts. The said spring is here supplements the action of the spring-sheave I and renders the outer end of the finger-bar self adjusting to the surface of the ground, while the said sheave effects the same purpose for the inner end of the fingerbar.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the spring k, hingebar F, finger-bar J, suspending and lifting chain, band, or cord E, and spring-sheave I, connected with the said chain, band, or cord between the said hinge-bar and the point of The foregoing specification signcd by me this to the chairi,band,or cords support, substan tialiy 4th day of November, 1879. as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The combination of the spring 70, hinge- EPHRAIM SMITH. 5 bar F, finger-bar J, suspending and lifting chain, band, or cord E, spring-sheave I, and Witnesses: I 7 mechanism for sustaining and adjusting the J. S. BROWN, said chain, band, or cord, substantially asand JAMES WRIGHT. for the purpose herein specified. 

